Signaling device



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R. K. LEE

SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Oct. 23, 1929 March 4, 1930.

Patented Mar. 4, 1930 PATENT OFQFICE ROGER K. LEE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGANSIGNALING DEVICE Application filed October 23, 1929. Serial No. 401,651.

This invention relates to signaling devices. The main objects of thisinvention are to provide an improved signaling apparatus which has aplurality of musical notes; to. provide a signaling apparatus in which aplurality of reeds of different tones are actuated in succession from acommon air source; to provide a multi-toned signaling horn in which thedifferent notes may be produced in succession and thereafter in unison;to provide an improved bellows and housing for creating the air flow tooperate the reeds; and

to provide an improved controlling means.

by the use of which the length of the musical notes and their spacedrelation from one another may be fixed as desired.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings,

in which F ig..1 is a vertical medial longitudinal sectional view of myimproved signaling .de vice mounted on a supporting base. Fig. 2 is asectional view taken on the line 2-2.0f Fig. 1 looking in'the directionindicated by the arrows. I

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken onthe line 33 of Fig. 1looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

In the construction shown in the drawings 9 a vertically extendingdisc-shaped base plate 5 is shown provided with a horizontally andrearwardly extending attaching foot 6 which is adapted to be secured byscrews or bolts 7 to a convenient and accessible part of themotorvehicle, or other place where the signaling device is desired.

V The base member 5 has a 7 tubular casing or cylinder 8 preferably ofsheet metal, securely attached thereto, as by welding an outwardlyturned flange 9 of the casing 8 to the marginal edge of the base plate5, said base plate serving to close one end of the tubular cas-j lheopposite end of the cylinder 8 is pro- 43 vided with a disc-shaped head10 which has a marginal flange 11 for surrounding and snugly receivingthe end of the cylinder. The flange ll'may be soldered, welded orotherwise suitably secured to the end of the cylin- 5U der.

tones emitted therefrom,

The head 10 is provided with an opening 12 which has an inwardly openingvalve 18 yieldably held thereagainst by a spring arm 14, one end ofwhich is attached to said valve and the other end of which is rigidlysecured to the casing 8 by suitable means such as a rivet 15. t

The base plate 5 has a plurality of equi-distantly spaced openingstherethrough, which are threaded to receive a like number of tubularsleeves 16 which have one end threaded thereinto and the other ends ofwhich support diverging horn or amplying tubes 17 The tubes 17 are eachprovided with a musical sound making unit which includes a reed 19. Anydesired number of these musical note making units with amplifying hornsof appropriate length may be provided, the construction of each beingsubstantially identical with the others, with the exception of the theobject being to provide a pleasing combination of tones which will be inchord with each other.

Means are provided for passing air under pressure through each of thesesound making units, individually or in unison, and comprise a bellows 20preferably of molded live rubber, the bellows having one end with a wallmolded integrally therewith and the other end open. The closed end ofthe bellows is mounted on a disc-shaped plate 21 of sheet metal, whichhas ears or lugs 22 turned inwardly at suitably spaced intervals, forembracing the adjacent fold or convolution of the bellows. The folds ofthe bellows, both inwardly and outwardly, are each provided with wirerings 28 which serve to prevent the'be'llows from collapsing during use.

The plate 21 and closed end of the bellows 20 are held securely againstthe base plate 5 by an axially extending stud 24 formed on a body guidemember 25 and into which is threaded a screw 26 bearing against a washer27. The arrangement is such that the screw clamps the parts togetherbetween the washer 27 and the guide member 25, which is of considerablylarger size than the stud 24c. The open end of the bellows 20 is closedby a piston head 28 which is axially slidable within the casing 8 andwhich has inturned lugs or finers 29 which partially surround and emracethe adjacent last convolution of the bellows and wire ring containedtherein.

The plate member 21 and closed end of the bellows resting thereagainstare provided with registering apertures, the marginal edges of which aresecured together by a grommet 30. The base 5 is also provided with anaperture 31 therein which is in mg istry with the opening through thegrommet so that the interior of the bellows is in communication with theatmosphere at all times.

Means are provided for elongating the bellows 20 against the action of acompression spring 32 which is interposed between the piston head 28 andcylinder head10, and comprise an axially'extending piston rod 33, oneend of which is secured to the piston 28 by a clip 34. The other end ofthe rod extends through a pliable gasket bushing '35 mounted in thecylinder head 10, and the tip end thereof is provided with a handle inthe form 01 a button 36 which may be conveniently grasped by a'user forpulling the piston rod outward-- 1y. The interior of the tubular casing8,, adjacent the cylinder head 10, is provided with a sleeve 37 againstwhich the piston 28 will abut to limit its movement toward the valve 13,thereby preventing accidental damage to said valve.

The piston 28 is of apertures 88 so provided with a plurality that airdisplaced in the tubular casing 8 by'manual movement or" the bellowswill pass through said apertures around the outside of the bellows,thence.

through the openings provided by the striking out of the tongues 22, andthen through apertures 39 provided in a-stepped portion of the plate 21,so that the air will pass down between the closed end of the bellows andthe plate 21, and out through apertures 40 which are provided in theplate 21in registry with the tubes 16 which support the note makingunits.

Means are provided for controlling the passage of air out through thedifferent signal units and comprise valves 41 pivotally hinged at 42 onclips 43, which are riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the plate21 on the inside of the bellows. A compression spring 44 is providedbetween the valve 41and an arm 45 of the clip 43, for normally urgingthe valve 41 so as to press the end of the bellows therebeneath tightlyagainst the discharge opening 40 provided in the plate 21.

The valves 41 have axially extending arms 46 which have raised portions47 and 48 in position to be engaged by laterally extending lugs 49integrally formed on a guide sleeve 50 by st'riking'out andsuitablybending a portion of saidsleeve. The guide sleeve 50 is rigidly mountedon the piston 28 and is axially slidable on the guide member 25 so asagainst the action of the spring 32, thereby V displacing the air withinthe tubular casing 8 and causing it to pass forwardly around the outerside of the bellows 20 through the apertures 39 and down between theclosed end of the bellows and the supporting plate 21. Movement of thepiston 28 carries the guide sleeve 50 outwardly vand causes theprojecting lugs 49 to engage the raised portions 47 of the valve arms46, thus swinging said, arms against the action oftheir respectivecompression springs 44. Such movement of the valve arm raisesithe valve4'1 from. contact with the closed end of the bellows'therebeneath, andpermits the displacedair under pressure within the casing 8 to pass outthrough the openings 40into the signal making units which communicatetherewith.

The raised portions 47 are spaced at differ ent longitudinalpositions sothat the valves are operated in succession, and by varying the length ofthe raisedportion 47, the time in-, terval may be varied so as toproduce notes of various length as desired.

NVhen the piston head 28 approaches its limit of movement allot thelugs49 engage the raised portions 48 of the valve arms in unison, therebyopening all of the valves at once, thus producing a chorded chimed blastfrom the signaling device.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has beenhereinshown and described, it will be understoodfthat numerous deta lsof the construction shown may be altered or omitted withoutdepartingifrom motor, operating means for said motor, a plurality ofsignaling devices communicating with said motor, and means operated bysaid motor operating means for controlling the operation oi saidsignaling devices. 2

1 3. A signallng apparatus comprising a chamber, means tor'drschargingair from said chamber, a signal device communicatingwith the dischargeof said chamber, and means operated by said discharging means forcontrolling the flow of air to said signal device.

4. A signaling apparatus comprising a chamber, means for discharging airfrom said chamber, a plurality of signaling devices communicating withthe discharge of said chamher and means operated by said discharge meansfor passing the discharged air to said signaling devices in succession.

5. A signaling apparatus comprising a chamber, means for discharging airfrom said chamber, a plurality of signaling devices communicating withthe discharge of said chamber and means operated by said discharge meansfor passing the discharged air to said signaling devices in succession,and thereafter 7 in unison.

6. A signaling apparatus comprising a chamber having a plurality ofdischarge outlets,,signaling devices communicating with said outlets,means for discharging air from said chamber through said outlets, valvesfor controlling said discharge outlets and means operated by saiddischarge means for operating said valves.

7. A signaling apparatus comprising a chamber having a plurality ofdischarge outlets, signaling devices communicating with said outlets,means for discharging air from said chamber through'said outlets, valvesfor controlling said discharge outlets and means operated by saiddischarge means for operating said valves in succession.

8. A signaling apparatus comprising a chamber'having a plurality ofdischarge outlets, signaling devices communicating with said outlets,means for discharging air from said chamber through said outlets, valvesfor controlling said discharge outlets and means operated by saiddischarge means for oper ating said valves in succession and thereafterin unison.

9. A signaling apparatus comprising a plurality of air operated signaldevices, an

air chamber communicating with said devices, valves which control thecommunication to said devices, a movable wall in said air chamber fordischarging the air therefrom and cooperating means between said walland valves for operating said valves when said wall is moved.

10. A signaling apparatus comprising a plurality of air operated signaldevices, an air chamber communicating with said devices,-valveswhich'control the communication to said devices, a movable wall in saidair chamber for discharging the air therefrom and cooperating meansbetween said wall and valves for operating said valves in successionwhen said wall is moved.

11. A signaling apparatus comprising a plurality of air operated signaldevices, an

. air chamber communicating with said devices, valves which control thecommunication to said devices, a movable wall in said wall is moved.

air chamber for discharging the air therefrom and cooperating meansbetween said wall and valves for operating said valves in succession andthereafter in unison when said 12. A signaling apparatus comprising achamber, an inwardly opening air valve for said chamber, a bellowswithin said chamber for displacing the air therefrom, a discharge outletfor said chamber, a signal device com municating with said outlet, avalve for controlling the communication between said chamber and signaldevice, means for moving said bellows to discharge air from saidchamber, and means operated by the movement of said bellows foractuating said valve.

13. A signaling apparatus comprising a chamber, an inwardly opening airvalve for said chamber, a bellows within said chamber for displacing theair therefrom, a discharge outlet for said chamber, a signal devicecommunicating with said outlet, a valve for controlling thecommunication between said chamber and signal device,'means forexpanding said bellows, and means operated by the expansion of saidbellows for opening said valve.

141.v A signaling apparatus comprising a chamber, an inwardly openingair valve for said chamber, a bellowswithin said chamber for displacingthe air therefrom, a plurality of discharge outlets, air operated signaldevices communicating with said outlets, valves for controllingcommunication between said chamber and signal devices, means forexpanding said bellows to discharge air from said chamber and meanssuccessively operated by the expanding movement of said bellows foropening said valves.

15. A signaling apparatus comprising a chamber, an inwardly opening airvalve for said chamber, a bellows within said chamber for displacing theair therefrom, a discharge outlet for said'chamber, a signal devicecommunicating with said outlet, a valve for controlling thecommunication between said chamber and signal device, manually operablemeans for expanding said bellows, means operable by the movement of saidbellows for actuating said valve, and automatic means for contractingsaid bellows.

16. A signaling apparatus comprising a chamber, an inwardly opening airvalve for said chamber, a bellows within said chamber for displacing theair therefrom, a plurality of discharge outlets for said chamber, signaldevices for said outlets, valves for controlling communication betweensaid chamber and signal devices, manually operable means for expandingsaid bellows to discharge air from said chamber, means successivelyoperated by the expanding movement of said bellows for opening saidvalves, and automatic means for contracting said bellows.

17. A signaling apparatus comprising a a: al.)

supporting frame, a cylindrical chamber =hai ing one end mounted on saidframe, an axially disposed guide mounted on said frame and extendingwithin said chamber, a bellows Within said chamber surrounding said,

guide, one end of said bellows being secured tosaidframe, a head on theother end'of said bellows, a guide on said head axially slidable on andinterfitting with said first mentioned guide, a manually operableaxially slida'ble rod connected to said bellows head for expanding saidbellows, automatic yielding means for contracting said bellows, aninwardlyopening air valve for said chamber, a

' plurality of discharge outlets for said chamber, signal devicescommunicating with said outlets, valves for controlling thecommunication between said chamber and said signal devices andcooperating means between said bellows head guide and said valwes foropening said valves-in succession when said Lbellows is expanded.

18. A signaling apparatus comprising a supporting frame, a cylindricalchamber having one end mounted on said frame, anaxially disposed guidemounted .on said frame and extending wlthln sald chamber, a bellows.

Within said chamber surrounding said guide, one end of said bellowsbeing secured .to said frame, a head on the otherendo f said bellows, aguide onsaid head axially slidab'leon and interfitting with said firstmentioned guide, a manually operable axially s'lidable rod connected tosaid bellows head for expanding said bellows, automatic yielding meansfor contracting said bellows, an inwardly opening air valve for saidchamber, a plurality :ofdischarge outlets for said chamber, signaldevices-communicating with said outlets, valves for controlling thecommunication between said chamber and said signal devices,'cooperatingmeans between said bellows head guide and said valves foropening saidvalves in successionwhen said bellows is expanded, and thereafteropening-all of said valves in unison.

ROGER K. nun

